Sausage link forming machine

ABSTRACT

A sausage link forming machine having a rotating frame secured on a drivable axle and wherein the frame has opposed parallel discs. Control cams are secured to the axle intermediate the discs. A plurality of sausage grasping head assemblies are secured between the discs and equidistantly spaced apart along a circular path. A link forming pincer mechanism is secured between each of the grasping head assemblies. These head assemblies have rotatable support rollers which are displaceable towards one another from a sausage casing receiving position to a sausage casing engaging position. A first cam follower is associated with each of the grasping head assemblies and engages a first cam portion of the control cam to displace the support rollers. A second cam follower is associated with each of the link forming pincer mechanisms and engages a second cam portion to cause the fork members to pivot to and away from one another. The support rollers are axially rotated and the forks grasp and compress a portion of the elongated sausage casing to form a sausage link twisted connection between adjacent ones of the grasping head assemblies in a portion of the rotating frame.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a sausage link forming machine capableof forming sausage links from an elongated sausage casing and severingthe links at individual link connections or at predetermined linkconnections and wherein the machine is compact, easy to assemble andrepair, provides adjustments to handle sausage casings of differentdiameters, and wherein the sausage links are formed with end linktwisted connections which substantially conceals the foodstuff at theend of the sausage link.

2. Description of Prior Art

Various machines have heretofore been provided for forming and handlingsausage links. However, many of these machines have proven unreliableand result in numeral machine stoppages because the sausage casingbursts when mishandled by the machine. Furthermore, sausage links formedby many of these machines are often not appealing to the eye as thefoodstuff protrudes from the partly closed ends of the sausage linkcasing because these ends are not properly formed. Still furtherdisadvantages of known sausage link forming machines is that thesemachines are difficult to clean when a sausage casing bursts renderingthe machine non-hygienic, they are difficult and time consuming torepair often shutting the link former for several hours. This becomes avery costly and time consuming process. A still further disadvantage ofknown sausage link forming machines is that they are very slow andrequire personnel to monitor the operation of the machine, to inspecteach of the sausage links to make sure that they are well formed and tomanually group the links in individual packages.

Most sausage link forming machines can only handle sausage casings ofpredetermined diameter and are not adaptable to other casing sizes.Consequently, additional machines must be provided to handle differentsize of sausage casings.

There is also a need to provide a very compact sausage link formingmachine which does not occupy much space and which also provides easyvisual inspection during the operation of the machine to identifyproblem areas. There is also the need to provide a sausage link formingmachine which is reliable while at the same time capable of operating athigh speeds to form at least 600 links of sausages per minute. A furtherneed is to provide sausage links wherein the ends of the sausage aretwisted to prevent the foodstuff from exiting from the ends of thesausage links and further to provide a machine which can handle sausagecasings formed of synthetic or natural skin.

It is known from International Publication No. WO 94/23584, filed onApr. 15, 1994, to mount pincer assemblies between rotating discs and tooperate the pincer assemblies by cams whereby to form twisted linkconnections in a sausage casing. While the casing is pinched, thesausage link being formed is twisted. It is also known from EuropeanPatent Application 0 069 544 to provide a severing means to cut thechain of sausages into separate links. In document WO 94/23584, there isalso shown roller assemblies which pinch the sausage casing to impart atwisting action to the sausage links. However, it is pointed out thatthis apparatus is extremely difficult to assemble and repair due to thefact that they are assembled in component parts on the machine. When amalfunction occurs it is necessary to idle the machine for long periodsof time to effectuate repairs. Thus, there is the need to provide forgrasping head assemblies which are easy to remove from the machine andquickly replaced by another assembly with ease and within a relativelyshort time period. There is also a need to provide for ease ofadjustment of such assemblies to adapt a casings of different diameters.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a sausagelink forming machine which substantially overcomes all of theabove-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and provides the desiredneeds.

According to a broad aspect, the present invention provides a sausagelink forming machine which comprises a rotating frame secured on adrivable axle. The frame has opposed parallel discs. Control cam meansis secured to the axle intermediate the discs. A plurality of sausagegrasping head assemblies are secured between the discs and equidistantlyspaced apart along a circular path. A link forming pincer mechanism issecured between each of the grasping head assemblies. The grasping headassemblies have rotatable support rollers which are displaceable towardsone another form a sausage casing receiving position to a sausage casingengaging position. First cam follower means is associated with each ofthe grasping head assemblies and engages a first cam portion of thecontrol cam means to displace the support rollers to position same tothe casing receiving position and the casing engaging position. Drivemeans is associated with each of the head assemblies to impart axialrotation to the support rollers. The link forming pincer mechanism has apair of pivoting form members which define therebetween a restrictedthroat area to grasp and compress a portion of the elongated sausagecasing to form a sausage link twisted connection between adjacent onesof the grasping head assemblies in a portion of the rotating frame. Thepivoting fork members support the elongated sausage casing at thereceiving section of the rotating frame. At least predetermined ones ofthe pivoting fork members have severing means to cut the sausage casingat the twisted link connection and at a discharge section of therotating frame. Second cam follower means is associated with each linkforming pincer mechanism and engages a second cam portion to cause thefork members to pivot to and away from one another. The forming machineis characterized in that the grasping head assemblies are formed byopposed sets of rotatable support rollers, with each set comprising adetachable support block detachably connected in transverse axialalignment to a respective one of the opposed parallel discs. At leastpart of the drive means is secured to the detachable support block. Eachof the support blocks are each secured to a diametrically extendingopen-ended block connecting slot formed in a peripheral end portion ofthe opposed parallel discs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sausage link forming machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified side view illustrating the position of thesausage grasping head assemblies as well as the link forming pincermechanism at the casing receiving position of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a simplified side section view similar to FIG. 2, butillustrating the grasping head assemblies in a closed position inengagement with the sausage casing and the construction of the supportroller connection to a detachable support block;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the construction of a portion ofthe sausage grasping head assembly;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing two portions of adjacent sausage graspinghead assemblies and their cam follower mechanism together with theposition of the link forming pincer fork members therebetween;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the construction of one of the opposedparallel discs of the forming machine;

FIG. 7 is a simplified view showing the adjustable link connectionbetween the support roller and their support block as well as the drivelinkage;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the position of a gear box associatedwith the stationary drive gear;

FIG. 9 is a section view of one of the the gear boxes;

FIG. 10 is a further section view of the gear box of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view of one of the control cams;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the control cam of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the construction of the link formingpincer mechanism;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are further views showing the displacement of thepivoting fork members of the pincer mechanism during their travelthrough a section of the forming machine;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing how the sausage casing is formedinto sausage links by the rotatable support rollers and the pincermechanism; and

FIG. 17 is a further perspective view showing a sausage link formed bythe forming machine of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown generally at 10 the sausage forming machine of the presentinvention. The machine 10 comprises a rotating frame which is formed bya pair of opposed parallel circular discs 12, 12′ which are rotatablysupported on a drivable axle 13 which is coupled to suitable drivemeans, not shown herein. The rotatable frame 11 is supported on astationary frame 14 to position the rotatable frame relative to anin-feed conveyor 15 on which an elongated sausage casing 16 is fed. Adischarge conveyor 17 is located below the rotating frame 11 to conveyformed sausage links away from the machine after they have been severedand released.

As herein shown, the link forming machine 10 has a plurality of sausagegrasping and rotating head assemblies which are detachably secured tothe parallel circular discs 12 and 12′ and engageable in connectingslots 19′. A link forming pincer mechanism 19 is also removably securedintermediate opposed ones of the sausage grasping and rotating headassemblies 18. The link forming pincer mechanism 19 is secured to asupport rod 20 also detachably secured in rod connecting slots 21provided in the discs 12 and 12′. Accordingly, individual ones of thelink forming pincer mechanisms as well as the sausage grasping androtating head assemblies are detachably connected to provide ease ofmaintenance, repair, and adjustment. As shown in FIG. 1, the sausagecasing 16 is fed at a casing receiving position 22 on top of the Ferriswheel-like rotating frame 11 wherein the sausage grasping headassemblies 18 and the link forming pincer mechanism 19 are in a sausagecasing receiving position, as will be described later and as illustratedin FIG. 2.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2 to 5, there will be described theconstruction of the sausage grasping head assemblies which areequidistantly spaced apart along a circular path defined between therotating circular discs 12 of the machine 10. As shown in FIG. 2, eachof the sausage grasping head assemblies 18 comprises opposed sets 18′ ofrotatable support rollers 23. FIG. 4 illustrates one of these sets 18′of support rollers and its assembly. As herein shown, the rollers 23 areconnected to a detachable block 24 which is detachably connected in thetransverse axially aligned connecting slots 19′ of the discs 12 and 12′(see FIG. 6). A pair of bolts 25 and a clamp plate 26 permit thissecurement from the exterior wall of the discs. Accordingly, byloosening the two bolts 25 and disconnecting the drive link chain 50(see FIG. 17), as will be described later, the entire rotatable supportroller assembly or set 18′ can be removed from the machine. The rollerset assembly 18′, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is comprised of a pair ofroller support shafts 27, each having a pair of rollers 28 securedthereto. The roller support shaft is secured to a roller support frame29 which is in turn secured to a support arm 30. A cam follower wheel 31is rotatably connected at the lower end 32 of the support arm 30. Asshown in FIG. 2, the roller support shafts 27 of each set of rotatablesupport rollers 18′ are spaced apart in a common plane 33 with theplanes 33 of both sets 18′ of support rollers lying parallel to oneanother and to the parallel discs 12.

Referring again to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the support arm 30 isprovided with a pair of transverse connecting shafts 34 which, as shownin FIG. 2, are respectively received in sliding fit within respectivecylindrical bores 35 formed within the support block 24. A helicalspring 36 is located within the cylindrical bores and accordingly biasesthe support arm 30 outwardly and maintains it oriented parallel to thecircular disc 12 and to the common plane 33 of the roller support shafts27. These springs also permit the roller 28 to be displaced when thesausage casing is not of uniform diameter, and prevents applyingexcessive force on the casing which could cause the casing to burst.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the support arm 30 is provided at an upperend thereof with a rod member 37 having an arresting flange 38 at arearward end thereof. As herein shown, the arresting flange 38 isabuttingly engaged with an upturned engaging free end 39 of a slidingplate 40 which is guidingly retained within a guide slot 41 formed inthe top wall 42 of the support block 24. The upturned engaging free end39 is disposed in obstructing relationship with respect to the arrestingflange 38 to arrest a forward position of the support arm which isspring-biased outwardly of the side wall 43 of the support block 24. Aclamp plate 44 secures the sliding plate 40 at a desired position withinthe guide slot 41. Accordingly, the common planes 33 of the rollersupport shafts 27 may be adjusted to accommodate therebetween sausagecasings of different diametrical size. The rollers 28, as herein shown,are formed of Nylon and have a smooth serrated circumference for betterengagement with the sausage casing 16 supported therebetween.

With additional reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, there will be described thedrive means which imparts rotation to the rollers 28. The drive means isprovided by a pair of stationary drive gears 45 having a coupling 46which is immovably secured to the stationary frame 14. Accordingly, thestationary drive gears are stationary and the rotatable circular discs12 and the support roller assemblies 18′ rotate relative thereto. In theparticular embodiment as herein shown there are ten sausage graspinghead assemblies 18 disposed about the rotatable frame 11. The rollers 28of adjacent assemblies 18′ are caused to rotate in opposite direction bythe provision of gear boxes 47 which are coupled to respective ones ofthe two drive gears 28. There are five gear boxes 47 secured to theinner surface 12′ of each of the circular discs 12 and 12′. Accordingly,each gear box has two output drive sprockets 48 and 48′ rotating inopposite directions. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the gear box 47 isprovided with a drivable gear 49 which is in meshing toothed engagementwith the central drive gear 45 to impart axial rotation thereto. A innerbeveled gear portion 50 coupled to the drivable gear is also disposed inmeshing engagement with beveled gear heads 51 of the drive sprockets 48and 48′. This imparts opposite axial rotations to the drive sprockets 48and 48′. It is pointed out that the gear boxes as well as the drive gearon both sides of the head assemblies are positioned differently wherebyboth sets 18′ of rollers 28 rotate in desired directions as indicated byarrows 62 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, only one of the drive sprockets 48 is hereinshown and coupled to one portion of the sets 18′ of rotatable supportrollers. As herein shown, the drive sprocket 48 is connected by a linkchain 50 to a further sprocket 51 immovably connected to a shaft 52secured to the support block 24. A pair of link arms 53 and 54 arepivotally interconnected to one another at an intermediate pivotconnection 55. The other end of the link arm 53 is pivotally connectedto the shaft 52 while the other end of the link arm 54 is pivotallyconnected to the roller support shaft 27′, see also FIG. 5. A pair ofsprockets 56 and 56′ are disposed about the intermediate pivotconnection 55. Sprocket 56 is connected to a further link chain 57 whichis also in engagement with the sprocket 51 to impart rotation to thesprocket 56′ connected thereto. A further link chain 58 is engaged aboutthe sprocket 56′ and a sprocket 59 secured about the support shaft 27′.

This sprocket 59 when rotated also imparts rotation to sprocket 59′which is connected thereto and also rotatable about the roller supportshaft 27′. Through a further link chain 60 and a further sprocket 61secured on the roller support shaft 27, all of the rollers 28 are causedto rotate in a common direction, i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise.The arrows 62, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, indicate a clockwise rotationof the roller set 18′. The opposed roller set which forms a sausagegrasping head assembly 18 will of course rotate in a counterclockwisedirection, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the sausage casing is graspedfrom four different locations thereabout and caused to twist, in thisparticular instance, in a counterclockwise direction. If we assume, withreference to FIG. 5, that the grasping head assembly 18 causes thesausage link grasped thereby to rotate in a clockwise direction, thenthe sausage head assembly 18″ would rotate in a counterclockwisedirection, which is in opposite direction, to impart a twist in thesausage casing link connection 9 therebetween, as herein shown in FIG.5, thereby forming adjacent sausage links 8 separated by a twisted linkconnection 9.

In order to form the sausage link connection 9 and the sausage links 8,the link forming pincer mechanism 19 needs to be actuated, as will nowbe described.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 15, there is shown the construction of thelink forming pincer mechanism 19 which is detachably secured to thesupport rod 20 which is in turn detachably secured across the rodconnecting slots 21 of the parallel circular discs 12 and 12′, as shownin FIG. 1. The link forming pincer mechanism 19 is comprised of a pairof pivoting fork members 65 and 65′, each having a connecting armsection 66 and 66′, respectively, and each pivotally connected in facialcontact about a pivot pin 67 which is secured to the support rod 20.Each fork member 65 and 65′ has a pair of diverging fingers 68 and 68′,respectively, at a free end of the connecting arm. The fingers have aninwardly sloping straight inner edge 69 which converge towards arestricted throat section 70, herein shown as a narrow slot 71. Thenarrow slot 71 may have a cutting edge 72 formed therein or in a bottompart thereof to sever the twisted link connection 9, as will bedescribed later. A torsion spring 73 is held about the pivot pin 67 andapplies outward pressure in the direction of arrows 74 to each of thefork members 65 and 65′ by abutting in a free end section thereofagainst an arresting pin 75 secured to each of the connecting arms 66and 66′.

A cam follower means in the form of a wheel 76 and 76′ securedrespectively to the fork members 65 and 65′ are biased by the spring 73against the top circumferential edge 77 and 77′ of respective stationarycams 78 and 78′ secured about the axle 13. As shown in FIG. 11, each ofthe cams, herein cam 78, is a cam disc having a slightly ellipticalshape. The cam 78 in its upper section 79 defines the sausage casingreceiving position of the link forming pincer mechanism and the forksare open as shown in FIG. 2. The cam 78 then follows a progressivelyelliptical shape whereby the link forming pincer mechanism is caused toclose and remain closed during its travel through the semi-quadrant at80. Substantially diametrically below the position 79 there is provideda short ridge portion 81 which causes the fork members 65 and 65′ toreach their maximum closed severing position, as shown in FIG. 15, tosever the twisted link connection 9 between sausage links 8. After theshort ridge section 81, the circumference of the cam disc again assumesan oval path which is less pronounced than the semi-quadrant 80 to causethe link forming pivotal fork members 65 to hinge out to a position asshown at FIGS. 2 and 14.

As can be seen in FIG. 14, when the cam follower wheels 76 and 76′travel on the cam section 79, the fork members are completely open toassume their maximum open position, as shown in FIG. 14, to permit thesausage casing 16 to be positioned therebetween. As shown in FIG. 2, therotatable support rollers 23 of each of the set of rollers 18′ are alsoseparated or spaced apart at their maximum position to provide clearanceto receive the sausage casing 16. These sets of rotatable supportrollers 18′ are actuated to and away from one another by their camfollower wheel 31 and 31′, as shown in FIG. 2, which are caused to rideon an arcuate cam 83 disposed on the outer wall 82 of the discs 78 and78′. The wheel 31 travels over an elevated arcuate cam 83 which has anelevated flat outer wall 84 and sloped end sections 85 and 86. Thisarcuate cam 83 is a C-shaped cam to cause the rotatable support rollers23 of the set of rollers 18′ to move toward one another from the sausagereceiving position at 79 and to remain in a casing engaging position, asshown at 87 in FIG. 3, until the sausage casing 16 is severed to formsausage links at the bottom of the machine.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a conical formation 80 may be disposedabout the restrictive throat section 70 of the fork members 65 and 65′and protrude slightly outwardly to compact the foodstuff within thecasings adjacent the twisted connection 9 to provide sausage ends 81, asshown in FIG. 7, wherein the ends of the sausage links 8 are compressedto provide for a twisted casing section 9′ after it has been severed.Accordingly, the foodstuff within the sausage link 8 does not escapefrom the end 81 of the casing. As previously described, the cuttingedges 72 may be provided at every second one of these pincer mechanismsto form double sausage links, as shown in FIG. 16. The interconnectingtwisted casing connection 9 retains its shape due to the fact that thesausage links or the casing, prior to be severed, are twisted in opposeddirections, as indicated by arrows 81 imparting a rigid twist to theskin or synthetic casing forming the connecting link 9.

In conclusion, it can be appreciated that the sausage link formingmachine of the present invention is very compact, easy to repair due tothe modular construction of the link forming pincer mechanism and thesausage casing grasping head assemblies and is highly efficient in theformation of sausage links having a sausage link end which is maintainedsubstantially in a closed position by a twisted link connection prior tobeing severed. The construction of the machine also permits high-speedoperation and is capable of producing at least 600 sausage links perminute. The modular construction of the machine also results in very fewmachine breakdowns and the adjustability of its grasping roller headassembly provides fine adjustment of the grasping and rotation ofsausage casing sections to prevent rupture of the casing and to performinterconnecting twisted links which are sufficiently twisted to produceclosed sausage ends preventing the foodstuff from escaping from the endsof the links. The open concept of the machine also permits formalfunctions to be visually detected quickly and for corrective actionto be made. It also provides ease of adjustment and maintenance.

It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obviousmodifications of the example of the preferred embodiment describedherein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a sausage link forming machine (10) comprisinga rotating frame (11) secured on a drivable axle (13), said frame (11)having opposed parallel discs (12, 12′), control cam means (78, 78′)secured to said axle (13) intermediate said discs (12, 12′), a pluralityof sausage grasping head assemblies (18) secured between said discs andequidistantly spaced apart along a circular path, a link forming pincermechanism (19) secured between each said grasping head assemblies, saidgrasping head assemblies (18) having rotatable support rollers (28)which are displaceable toward one another from a sausage casingreceiving position (22) to a sausage casing engaging position (23),first cam follower means (31) associated with each said grasping headassemblies (18) and engaging a first cam portion (83) of said controlcam means (78, 78′) to displace said support rollers (28) to positionsame to said casing receiving position (22) and said casing engagingposition (23), drive means (45, 50, 57, 58, 60) associated with eachsaid head assemblies to impart axial rotation to said support rollers(28), said link forming pincer mechanism (19) having a pair of pivotingfork members (65, 65′) defining therebetween a restricted throat area(70) to grasp and compress a portion of an elongated sausage casing (16)to form a sausage link twisted connection (9) between adjacent ones ofsaid grasping head assemblies (18) in a portion of said rotating frame,said pivoting fork members (65, 65′) supporting said elongated sausagecasing (16) at said receiving section (22) of said rotating frame, atleast predetermined ones of said pivoting fork members (65, 65′) havingsevering means (72) to cut said sausage casing (16) at said twisted linkconnection (9) at a discharge section of said rotating frame, second camfollower means (76) associated with each said link forming pincermechanism (19) and engaging a second cam portion (77) to cause said forkmembers (65, 65′) to pivot to and away from one another, said formingmachine being characterized in that said sausage grasping headassemblies (18) is formed by opposed sets (18′) of said rotatablesupport rollers (28) each said sets (18′) comprising a detachablesupport block (24) detachably connected in transverse axial alignment toa respective one of said opposed parallel discs (12, 12′), at least partof said drive means being secured to said detachable support block; saidsupport blocks (24) are each secured to a diametrically extendingopen-ended block connecting slot (19′) formed in a peripheral endportion of said opposed parallel discs (12, 12′).
 2. A sausage linkforming machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means(45,50,57,58,60) of adjacent ones of said grasping head assemblies (18)imparts counter axial rotation to adjacent sausage links (8) beingformed to impart an opposed twisting force (81) at opposed ends of saidsausage link connection (9) in said restricted throat area (70) of saidfork members (65,65′).
 3. A sausage link forming machine as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said first cam follower means (31) is secured to aroller assembly support arm (30), a pair of roller support shafts (27)connected to a roller support frame (29) at a free end of said supportarm (30), a pair of support rollers (28) connected to each said rollersupport shaft (27), said support shafts (27) being spaced apart in acommon plane (33) and disposed parallel between said opposed paralleldiscs (12,12′), said support arm (30) being connected to said supportblock (24) by spring biasing means (34,36), and adjustment means (37,40)to adjust the position of said common plane (33) to vary the spacingbetween said opposed sets (18′) of said rotatable support rollers (28)to accommodate the grasping of sausage casings (16) of differentdiameters.
 4. A sausage link forming machine as claimed in claim 3wherein said adjustment means (37,40) is comprised of a sliding plate(40) having an engaging end (39), said plate being slidably retained ina guide slot (41) of said support block (24), said engaging end (39)being disposed in obstructing relationship with an arresting member (38)of said support arm.
 5. A sausage link forming machine as claimed inclaim 4 wherein said support arm (30) has a pair of connecting guiderods (34) received for close sliding fit in a pair of bores (35)provided in said support block (24), and a helical spring (36) disposedin each said bores (35) to urge said guide rods (34) and said supportarm (30) away from said support block (24).
 6. A sausage link formingmachine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said support blocks (24) are eachsecured to a diametrically extending open-ended block connecting slot(19′) formed in a peripheral end portion of said opposed parallel discs(12,12′), said discs (12, 12′) are circular discs.
 7. A sausage linkforming machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drive means(45,50,57,58,60) is comprised by a stationary drive gear (45), aplurality of gear boxes (47) secured adjacent said stationary drivegear, each of said gear box (47) being associated with a respective oneof said detachable support block (24), each said gear box (47) having adrivable gear (49) in meshing engagement with said stationary drive gear(45), said drivable gear (49) being connected to a pair of opposedroller drive sprockets (48,48′) rotating in opposed directions, eachsaid roller drive sprockets (48,48′) imparting rotational axialdisplacement of said rotatable support rollers (28) to a respective oneof opposed sausage grasping head assemblies (19) to effectuate saidcounter axial rotation.
 8. A sausage link forming machine as claimed inclaim 7 wherein each said roller drive sprockets is connected to a chaindrive pivotal linkage (53,54) secured between said detachable supportblock (24) and said roller support frame (29).
 9. A sausage link formingmachine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said link forming pincer mechanism(19) is detachably secured to a support rod (20), said support rod (20)being detachably connected and adjustable in further diametricallyextending open-ended rod connecting slots (21) formed in said peripheralend portion of said opposed parallel discs (12,12′) and intermediatesaid block connecting slots (19).
 10. A sausage link forming machine asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said control cam means (78,78′) is providedby a pair of stationary parallel cam discs (78,78′) immovably securedwith respect to said drivable axle (13).
 11. A sausage link formingmachine as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said cam disc (78,78′) has anelevated arcuate cam (83) on an outer side wall (78) thereof, said cam(83) having an elevated flat outer wall (84) and sloped end sections(85,86), said cam (83) constituting said first cam portion, said camdisc (78) having a flat outer circumferential wall (77) of oval-likeshape, said circumferential wall (77) having a short elevated knifeactuating portion (81), said flat outer circumferential wall (77)constituting said second cam portion.
 12. A sausage link forming machineas claimed in claim 11 wherein said pair of pivoting fork members(65,65′) of said link forming pincer mechanism (19) each comprise aconnecting arm (66,66′) pivotally connected at one end to a common pivotconnection (67), a pair of diverging fingers (68,68′) at a free end ofsaid connecting arm (66,66′), said diverging fingers (68,68′) havinginwardly sloping straight inner edges (69) converging towards saidrestricted throat area (70), said connecting arms (66,66′ of said pairof pivoting link member (65,65′) being interconnected in frictionalfacial contact at said common pivot connection (67), spring biasingmeans (73) urging said connecting arms away from one another, saidsecond cam follower means (76) being a cam follower wheel (76) securedto each said connecting arms (66,66′) and engaging a respective one ofsaid circumferential wall (77) of said pair of parallel cam discs(78,78′), said cam discs (78,78′) being shaped so that saidcircumferential wall (77) and said cam follower wheel (76) cause saidpair of diverging fingers (68,68′) to move toward one another from anopen position at said casing receiving position (22) to a closed cuttingposition at said short elevated knife (81) actuating position.
 13. Asausage link forming machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein a lower oneof said diverging fingers (68) has said straight inner edge (69) thereofdisposed substantially horizontal at said casing receiving position(22), and said inner edge of said other finger is disposed substantiallyvertically thereto to provide a channel opening to receive said sausagecasing (16) therebetween.
 14. A sausage link forming machine as claimedin claim 1 wherein every second one of said pincer mechanism (19) hasits pivoting fork members (65,65′) provided with a cutting edge (72) insaid restricted throat portion (70) to form double link sausage strings(8).
 15. A sausage link forming machine as claimed in claim 1 whereinthere is further provided means (15) to feed an elongated sausage casing(16) at a receiving section (22) of said rotating frame (11).